VASECTOMY – OVERVIEW, PROCEDURE, ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES & RISKS

Vasectomy is the form of male birth control method that prevents the supply of sperm to the semen. The method involves the cutting and sealing of tubes that carry sperm. You need to be certain, before getting a Vasectomy, that you don’t want having children in future. It is considered as a permanent form of male birth control. Although Vasectomy reversals are possible, however it is very ineffective, complicated and expensive method with no guarantee of the results, so you should be certain about your decision.

Vasectomy treatment is the most successful method of birth control. American Urological Association states that pregnancy will occur in fewer than 2 out of every 1000 couples in which man has had a Vasectomy.

Here’s what you need to know about Vasectomy: Its overview, procedure, advantages, disadvantages and risks:

WHAT IS VASECTOMY?

The testicles produce sperm that travels through the tubes called as vas deferens. The vas deferens or vas continues to travel through the prostate gland to join the vas on the other side to end up in the urethra, which exits through penis. The main goal of the procedure is to block the right and left vas which prevents the release of sperm and a man ejaculate only semen without sperm eliminating the possibility of fertilization as there is no sperm in the semen. The testicles continue to produce sperm but it is reabsorbed by the body.

HOW IS THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED?

The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and the doctor gives you local anesthesia. The procedure can be done within 20 to 30 minutes. Nowadays, there are two approaches used to perform the procedure of Vasectomy: Conventional Vasectomy and Non-Scalpel Vasectomy.

Conventional Vasectomy:

At first, the doctor cleans up the testicles and scrotum (a muscular sac located between penis and anus) with antiseptic. The doctor might give you oral or intravenous (IV) medicine to reduce anxiety and to make you sleepy so that you can’t remember about the procedure. The doctor locates each vas by touch and then local anesthesia is injected into that area. After that, the doctor makes one or two small openings or cuts in the scrotum. The two vas deferens tubes are cut through this opening. Then the ends of vas deferens are tied, stitched and sealed. The skin of the openings in scrotum is then closed with stitches that can be later dissolved in the body.

NON-SCALPEL VASECTOMY:

The difference between the two approaches is the way with which doctor reaches to the tubes and not the way of blocking them. During a Non-Scalpel procedure, instead of making one or two small incisions, the doctor makes one small puncture using a special instrument. This special instrument is then used to stretch the small opening so that the doctor locates the tubes under the skin and then holds them in place with the help of a small clamp. After that, the tubes which are lifted out with the small clamp are blocked using heat to seal the ends.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE PROCEDURE?

After the surgery, you will feel minor swelling and pain on the scrotum but it subsides within few days after the treatment. The recovery time of Vasectomy is minimal and you can wear snug underwear to ease the discomfort and protect the area. Avoid lifting heavy weight for almost one week.

The most important point to consider is that your sperm count should be zero because if it is not zero then you can still make your partner pregnant. For that, you will have a follow-up sperm count test two months after the surgery. Meanwhile, you can have another birth control method and once the sperm count is zero then there is no need of another birth control method.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THE PROCEDURE?

It is an effective and permanent birth control method.

It is the best method for those men who are sure that they don’t want to have children in future.

It is a safe procedure and Vasectomy cost is less expensive.

BELOW ARE BENEFITS OF NON-SCALPEL VASECTOMY OVER THE CONVENTIONAL VASECTOMY:

Less bleeding

Low complication rate

Quick healing time

Less intra-operative discomfort

Effective and convenient

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROCEDURE?

DISADVANTAGES:

The major disadvantage of the procedure is that it doesn’t give protection for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including the infection of HIV.

RISKS:

THE RISK OF COMPLICATIONS IS VERY LOW BUT THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS INCLUDE:

Bleeding inside scrotum causing swelling or bruising

Infection may develop where the incisions are made

Sperm can leak from vas deferens into the tissue around it and forms a small lump.

In very rare cases, the vas deferens can start growing back together, so the man becomes fertile again.

RISK OF FAILURE OF THE PROCEDURE:

PREGNANCY MAY OCCUR AFTER THE PROCEDURE BECAUSE OF THE BELOW FACTORS:

Failure to use another birth control method unless the sperm count is confirmed to be zero. It normally takes 10-20 ejaculations to completely clear out sperm from the semen.

The vas deferens can reconnect spontaneously or opening in one end can cause the sperm to mix with the semen, but it happens very rarely.

Is Vasectomy right for you?

If you are considering Vasectomy then you must be absolutely sure that you don’t want children in future. Reversal Vasectomy is available in case if you have decided to become a father after you have had Vasectomy. During this reversal procedure, the doctor can remove sperm from testical and this sperm is then used for in vitro fertilization (IVF), a procedure that involves collecting woman’s eggs from ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in laboratory. But the reversal procedure is very difficult and becomes more complicated. Discuss all the options with your partner and then think about all the possible risks and benefits of having the surgery and then discuss with your Vasectomy doctor.

Book an appointment at Urology Care of Central New jersey:

So, if you have decided to undergo Vasectomy then consult the board certified urologist at Urology Care of Central New Jersey. He has extensive years of experience and advanced training to provide best treatment with personalized care. He has 99% success rate of performing Non-Scalpel Vasectomies under local anesthesia for over 20 years.

Majority of men are not aware of Prostate gland. They might hear it from the doctor while experiencing any problem or disease related to Prostate gland. What is the function of this gland? What problems can we might get with this gland? When it’s...

Majority of men who are getting older might wondered if there are any measures or ways to prevent enlarged prostate or lower the risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Advancing age and family history of the disease are the two main risk...

The Prostate Cancer is the disease in which malignant cells or cancerous cells develop in the tissues of prostate gland, which is located in male reproductive system and produces a fluid that protects and nourishes sperm in the semen. It has become the...

The involuntary or accidental leakage of urine is called as Urinary Incontinence (UI) or simple it means that a person has to urinate when he/she don’t want to. It is a common and sometimes embarrassing problem for most of the affected people.

It has happened to most of women: when they cough, sneeze or laugh then all of a sudden they feel that unique sensation of their bladder leakage. Most of them feel embarrassed and uncomfortable if they are experiencing Urinary Incontinence (UI) and none...

Prostate gland surrounds the bottom of the bladder and first few inches of urethra (urinary tube) in men. Prostate gland plays an important role in the male reproductive system by secreting seminal fluid and this seminal fluid combine with sperm to make...